I don't see a problem throwing a reman long block at it. Truck prices are fucking crazy. Why I'm driving a fourbanger Canyon with a stick. Hell, a new Sierra 1500 V6 double cab would cost me about 7 grand more. Granted, it's a lot more truck, but it just was not in the budget to buy a $31k+ truck.

If I knew where my 08 Silverado 5.3L ended up I would tell you to go buy that engine. Never had a serious problem with it (well there were starting to be some annoying electrical gremlins) and only had 128,000 miles on it. Never had a problem until a stupid no driving bitch crossed the center line and removed the rear axle from it and flipped it on its side (among other things). But the engine was still good!

But yes, truck prices are insane. I ended up paying ~$28k out the door for a used 2015 Ram 1500 5.7 4x4 big horn with 20k on it. I like it, but I'm poor again now. But fuck truck shopping. I went to look at a couple used ones at a Toyota dealership (not Toyotas because they are ridiculously overpriced) and the guy kept wanting to show me goddamn used tacomas for $32k+.

did dodge fix the rear end problems they were having in the mid to late 2000s? how about the transmission problems they were known for?

and i don't think i could use an engine out of a 2008 model because of the AFM. besides cost, AFM is the reason i won't buy a newer one. too many folks having issues with that junk. all over a tiny MPG gain on the highway. i'm tired of these federal fuel mileage standards.

it arrived today and should be ready to go sunday. hopefully this hurricane doesn't cause me to have to work sunday. i'm ready to get this stripped down work truck back to my granny and get back in my SLT.

"did dodge fix the rear end problems they were having in the mid to late 2000s? how about the transmission problems they were known for?"

Do whaaaaaaaaaaa

Wasn't really aware of the axle problems? Diesel or gas?

Lot of displeasure with the 47re/48re in the 96-08 range, but what ive seen is simply poor maintenance and/or adding power. the 68RFE that came after is good for OEM. the 545RFE found in the 1500's is decent.

i seem to remember a bunch of rear diff problems on the 1500s...i think around 2005 to 2010, maybe. my roommate's dad had one for a company work truck and the rear end went out. the dealership told him that the thing required some stupid rear gear lube change interval. i don't remember what it was, but it was ridiculously short.

improper maintenance may be the reason for problems with the 47re and 48re, but there are a bunch of GM turbo hydra-matics from the mid 80s that have never seen a fluid change and are still going strong. i wish we could still get a simple, bulletproof truck like those were.

just fyi, if you suspect this head cracking problem on your GM engine, you better take it somewhere that is willing to put in the time and effort to find it. it's not easy to spot and pressure tests and such will not find it.